#Explore with Mike Corey
Explore Fredericton with Mike Corey: Frederictonian and Adventure Travel Influencer!
For the last 10 years, Mike Corey has travelled extensively to extreme and exotic locations around the world as a vlogger under his Fearless & Far brand and more recently, became the North American correspondent for the BBC Travel Show. We have worked with Mike on numerous projects and when we heard he was spending some time at home this summer, we immediately jumped on the opportunity to partner with him on a video series exploring his favourite things to see, do and eat in his hometown.
This 5-part series was released throughout the summer of 2020, each with a corresponding blog post to provide a deeper dive into Mike’s thoughts on his favorite things about Fredericton.
The final video of our 5-part series with Mike Corey takes a taste tour of ethnic cuisine in Fredericton! After travelling 50+ countries and trying A LOT of different dishes, Mike can attest to the fact that Fredericton has a great selection of ethnic restaurants.
Ethnic Food Faves in Fredericton
Here are his top 3:
J’s Asian Kitchen: Bringing the best of East & South East Asia to Fredericton, J’s from-scratch pad Thai and fresh sushi are fan favorites. If you’re into spicy, their Korean dishes, kimchi and jeyuk are the way to go.
Byblos Restaurant & Bar: Lebanese cuisine is healthy, fresh and easily enjoyed by all. Byblos showcases their grilled meats, homemade hummus, grape leaves and tabbouleh salad.
Hana Ethiopian Café: Ethiopian food contains lots of exotically spiced veggies and slow, cooked spicy meats that are best enjoyed with injera, a sourdough flatbread – Hana’s does this right!
We hope you are inspired to discover your new favorite ethnic restaurant in Fredericton, or to at least try something new!
The Fredericton Taproom Trail
Join Mike as he takes on the Fredericton Taproom Trail! With 26 local producers of craft bevvy’s in the Fredericton Region, it’s hard to decide where to begin your taste test tour; Mike’s here to help you on your adventure with the #FredTapTrail. Pick up a map at 1 of the 11 participating local taprooms and purchase a pint or flight to receive your first stamp! With over 120 kms of trail in the Capital City, it’s easy to gather up some friends, hop on your bike and visit each taproom (…not all on the same day, of course)! Each stamp will bring you closer to collecting exclusive #FredTapTrail swag. Crafty connoisseurs who collect a stamp from all 11 participating taprooms with be entered into the grand prize draw!
Local Fredericton Taprooms: A Beginner’s Guide
Mike’s crash course in Fredericton Brewing for the uninitiated covers his favorite craft brews in the city:
Maybee Brewing: taking advantage of the 1$ discount for bikers, Mike and co. biked to the Maybee Brewing taproom to enjoy a WorkHorse IPA.
Red Rover Craft Cider: from there, they continued with a bike journey along 6km of trail to Red Rover on Queen Street. The -not too sweet- Maple Grove Cider is Mike’s recommendation.
King West Brewing Company: the next stop is King West Brewing & RustiCo. for a wood fired pizza, carefully paired with a tasty craft beer brewed on site.
Picaroons Brewing Company: a trip across the scenic Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge brings the crew to the Picaroons Round House to sip their famous summer ale – Dooryard.
Trailway Brewing Company: the day is ended on Trailway’s patio where your thirst can be quenched by one of their aromatic, hop forward ales.
Each of our local taprooms has their own unique vibe and flair for creating inventive brews; Mike has shared with us a mere glimpse of the craft beer and cider scene in Fredericton, the best way to experience Atlantic Canada’s Brewing Capital is by embarking on your own #FredTapTrail tour!
Local Food
No matter where you are in the world, one can’t argue against locally grown and inspired ingredients being the basis of the most delectable cuisine, which is why Mike’s third video of our 5-part series is about just that! Take a taste tour with Mike, as he shares his top 4 can’t-miss Fredericton restaurants, each with its own take on utilizing fresh ingredients and knack for making our favorite comfort food just that much better.
Local Food Love: 4 Can’t Miss Fredericton Restaurants
In his local food blog, Mike tells us about the local ingredients that remind his of his hometown. Fredericton is known its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean’s delicious bounty and the abundance of seasonal produce that can be picked up from our local markets, hand chosen at a local U-pick or enjoyed in a dish at a local restaurant; Here is Mike’s list of Fredericton restos that make the most of this luxury:
The Palate: for their Fresh & Exciting local dishes. It’s impossible to have a bad meal here
Monks & Jonesie: for their innovative mouthwatering menu items like pulled duck Naan-wich and waffle cut sweet potato fries.
The Wolastoq Wharf: this indigenous-owned Northside restaurant serves the Atlantic Ocean’s bounty like no other.
Milda’s Pizza & More: woodfired masterpieces use local ingredients like New Brunswick Pepperoni and fiddle heads.
Everyone loves good food, best enjoyed when sharing with friends and family. Be inspired by Mike’s top 4 must-try restaurants in Fredericton and book a reservation with your bubble today! You can find the full list of Fredericton restaurants here.
The Islands: A Fredericton Hidden Gem
The second episode of Mike’s video series explores the Saint John River. Also known as the Wolastoq River, these waterways are rich with history, overflowing with stories and now, at the epicenter of outdoor adventure in Fredericton.
In this video, Mike shares his own story about Wolastoq's’ greatest hidden gem: the islands. We all know the journey to discovery is half the fun, so join Mike as he and his friend paddle through the maze of islands in the majestic river, through the canopy of trees along its banks, all while taking in the wildlife and natural wonders abound. You can explore what Mike describes as “Fredericton’s jungle” by renting a stand-up paddleboard, canoe or kayak from Second Nature Outdoors and, with permission, floating over to Ross or Hartt Island.
Dry Bag. Bug spray. 4-Pack. Check.
Mike’s blog about the river highlights the history of the Wolastoq and its important role in the Capital Region. The over 400 kilometers of river that we now explore at our leisure was once waterways for birch canoes, then passenger ferries and cargo ships - a necessary means of travel and source of survival. As you crack open a craft beer, enjoying the sunset on the banks of the bountiful Wolastoq, we hope you can reflect not only on this history but now, on your own tale about Canada’s Most Storied River.
Fredericton Trails – Over 120km to Explore
To kick off the series, Mike highlighted his favorite local trail routes, a video that was inspired by realizing his most loved places in Fredericton all happen to be connected to the extensive trail system.
With 120 kms of scenic trails winding through Fredericton, it’s hard to choose where to begin on your journey. Mike shares with us HIS top 3 sections of trail, as well as the landmarks that make them special: the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge is possibly the most iconic landscape in Fredericton with its stellar sunset and sunrise views; as you pass by the Lighthouse on The Green it becomes evident that Fredericton is a cultural capital as you pass pieces of public art along the riverside trail; Odell Park, one of Canada’s best old growth forests exists as sanctuary in the middle of the city and is the perfect location for trail running.
After 70 Countries – My Road Always Leads Home
In this blog post, Mike explains why he always drawn back here - it’s all in the feeling of Fredericton, the people and the natural beauty that surround the Capital City. Mike notes that he looks forward to coming back home to witness how Fredericton is always evolving to highlight its strengths. The recently launched Fredericton Taproom Trail received an honorable mention; the passport-style map lists and shows the locations of 11 taprooms around the city – a great way to take advantage of our amazing trail system!
Explore Fredericton with a Famous Travel Adventurer this Summer!
Mike has travelled the world, 70 countries to be exact, and STILL looks forward to coming back to his hometown in Fredericton! Join Mike this summer as he showcases our extensive trail system, discovers the rich history and adventure found on the Saint John River, savours the flavours of local cuisine, sips his way through the city via the #FredTapTrail and samples the smorgasbord of ethnic food found in Fredericton restaurants.
It’s easy to see why Mike has a social following, including 111,000 followers on Instagram and 329,000 YouTube followers. While watching this series we hope that you will be inspired to #ExploreFredericton!
